Catalyzer apparatus



W. F. COCHRANE.

CATALYZER APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1913.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

UNITED ST TES WILLIAI PATENT orr-lce.

r. or ammonia, mxmn, ABSIGNOB r0 't'fa'mnus- TRIAL ALCOHOL 00., A OOBIOBATION 0! Wm CATALYZEB APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application fled June 18, 1818. Serial 10. 889,736.

. a catalyzer apparatus of an advantageous character, by means of which a heated catalytic agent, as for example finely divided copper, may be effectively applied to alcohols to produce aldehydes, as for example in the production of acetaldehyde from ethyl alcohol, and in such a manner that the necessary temperature may be effectively maintained throughout all portions of the catalyzer.

A further object is to provide an appa-- ratus of this character which is so arranged that the necessary temperature will be applied throughout all portions of the catalyzer, while at the same time the capacity of the apparatus is made sufficiently large to treat large quantities of the alcohol. By means of my invention I am able, therefore, .to avoid the disadvantages of other types of catalyzer apparatus in which the catalyzer was inefi'ectively or unevenly heated when large quantities of the cata.

lyzer were'being used to treat correspondingly large quantities of the alcohol, or in which it was necessary to provide the apparatus withonly a small capacity if the catalyzer was efiectively and uniformly heated. I I

Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description thereof contained hereinafter.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many diiferent forms, for the purpose of illustration I have shown only one form of the same in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectionof a catalyzer apparatus made in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an alternative form of catalyzer.

In the drawings, I have shown a catal zer apparatus comprising an inlet tube 1 or vapors of an alcohol, as for example ethyl alcohol, to be supplied by the same to a cylindrical catalyzer chamber 2, "'containing an annular body of catalyzer material 3, coaxial therewith and which may be. comprised either of pumice stone carrymg finely divided reduced copper, such for example as the catalyzer material made in accordance with the process disclosed in the patent of Arthur A. Backhau's 'upon process of making catalyzers, Patent Numher 1,376,665 granted May 3, 1921, or which may be instead, if desired, comprised of .a plurality of annular copper gauze sheets 3, carrying on their surfaces finely divided reduced copper, as shown in Fig. 2, which may be treated in accordance with one of the processes set forth in the atent of Arthur A. Backhaus and Fred Arentz upon process of making catalyzer's, Patent Number 1,376,665, ranted. May 3, 1921, or the patent of Art ur A. Backhaus upon method of producing catalyzers, Number 1,37 5,345, granted April 19,1921.'

The catalytic material is confined within the catalyzer chamber 2 between two erforated plates 4 and 5,'which maybe eld in place in any suitable manner, as for example by spacing rings 6 and 7, whichrest against upper and lower heads 8 and 9, closing the up er and lower ends of the catalyzer cham er 2, respectively." An outlet pipe 10 is provided to'conduct away the vapors of acetaldehyde and hydrogen from the catal zer apparatus for separation in any suita 1e manner. 6

Within the catalyzer chamber 2 there is shown a central heating chamber 11,..which communicates by a plurality of radiating pipes 12 with an outer heating jacket 13, which, being also shown as substantially parallel and coaxial with the catalyzer chamber, is adapted to be'lsuppliedwith a current of heated oil by means of inlet and outlet pipes 14 and 15. An annular per-v forated bafiie l6 separates the walls of the chamber 2 and limits the movement of the heating liquid therein.

In the operation of my invention, alcohol vapors, as for example vapors of ethyl alcohol, are conveyed into the apparatus by means of the pipe 1, and said vapors then pass through the perforated plate 5 into contact with the catalytic material. '3. The finely divided copper then acts upon the alcohol vapors to form acetaldehyde and hydrogen, which pass upwardly through the pipe 10.

' p order to bring necessary, however, to heat the alcohol perforated plate and out through the exit about this change, it is vapors and the catalytic material to a temperature'of from 250 to 350 C. This is 'efiectively accomplished by the internal and external heating means, which comprise the external heating jacket 13 and the internal heating chamber 11, and which are continually supplied with a current oi oil heated to r the temperature above referred to.

By this means a large volume of alcohol vapors may be effectively treated and at the desired temperature, so that an apparatus ma be provided of this character capable ofprodncing the acetaldehydeor other 'alde hyde upon a large scale;

While I have described above a heating means for the catalyzer material in the form of a current of heatedoil, it is to be understood. that any other internal and external 1. a catalyzer apparatus forthe transformation of an organic body durin applicationof heat thereto, an outer cylindrical heating chamber, an annular catalytic chamher being formed by the inner wall of said annular catalytic chamber, pipes connecting said inner heating chamber with said outer heating chambenjand inlet and outlet pipes for the introduction and withdrawal of the heating medium from said heating chamber.

2. In a catalyzer apparatus for the transformation of an organic body during application of heat thereto, an outer cylindrical heating chamber, an annular catalytic chamber therein having openings near its ends and containing a pervious catalytic material, conduits respectively for the introducing of the organic body and for the withdrawal of the transformation products and connected with said openings, an inner heating chamber being formed by the inner wall of said annular catalyticchamber, assages connecting said inner heating cham er with said outer heating chamber, and inlets and outlets for the introduction and withdrawal of the heating. medium. from said heating chamber.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto, set my hand.

WILnIAM F. seminars,

Witness: i

J OHN P. Grsomm. 

